OSHA Regulations

Authorized employee

A person who locks or tags out machines or equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment. An affected employee becomes and authorized employee when the employee's duties include performing servicing or maintenance covered by this standard.

Vertical Standard

A standard applying to a particular industry with specifications that relate to individual operations. e.g., OSHA requirements for pulp, paper, and paperboard mills

Other-than-serious violation

A violation that has a direct relationship with job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA may assess $13,494 per violation. The agency may adjust a penalty for an other-than-serious violation downward by as much as 95%, depending on the employer's good faith, history of previous violations, and size of business.

Petition for modification of abatement

After receiving a citation, the employer must correct the cited hazard by the abatement date unless he or she contests the citation or abatement date. Factors beyond the employers control may prevent the completion of corrections by the abatement date. In such a situation, the employer who has made a good faith effort may file a petition to modify the abatement date.

Who is covered by OSHA?

All private sector employers with one or more workers in all 50 states and US territories are governed under the OSH Act. OSHA regulations do not apply to all employees in the public sector (municipal, country, state, or federal government agencies), self-employed individuals, family members operating a farm, or domestic household workers.

Affected employee

An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.

29 CFR 1910.1030

Blood Borne Pathogens Standard

Falsifying records, reports or applications

Can, upon conviction, bring criminal fine of $10000 or up to 6 months in jail, or both.

1910.147

Control of Hazardous Energy. This standard covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start-up of the machines or equipment or the release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. This standard establishes minimum performance requirement for the control of such hazardous energy. Control of energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment.

Exposure Control Plan

Each employer having an employee (or employees) with occupational exposure or potential exposure to blood borne pathogens shall establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed your eliminate or minimize employee exposure. :

General Duty Clause

Employer shall furnish "a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees." Where there is no specific standard, OSHA will use the general duty clause for the issuance of citations and fines. The general duty clause can be found in Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

Failure to abate violation

Failure to correct a prior violation.

29 CFR 1910.1200

Hazard Communication Standard

Assaulting a compliance officer or otherwise resisting, opposing, intimidating, or interfering with a compliance officer in the performance of his or her duties

Is a criminal offence and is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 and imprisonment for not more than 3 years.

Blood

Means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.

Blood borne pathogens

Means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Employers may request an Informal meeting with OSHA's area director to discuss a case.

OSHA encourages employers to have informal conferences with the area director if the employer has issues arising from the inspection that they wish to discuss or provide additional information. The Area Director is authorized to enter into settlement agreements that revise citations and penalties to avoid prolonged legal disputes and result in speedier hazard abatement.

OSHA Citation Penalties

Other-than-Serious Violation Serious Violation Willful Violation Repeated Violation Failure to abate violation potential other penalties

Chemical Label Contents

Product Identifier Signal Word Hazard Statement(s) Pictograms Precautionary Statement(s) Name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer or other responsible party.

exposure control plan review

Reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures that affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or supervised employee positions with occupational exposure.

Horizontal Standards

Safety standards that apply to all industries, such as fire protection, working surfaces, first aid, etc.

Safety Data Sheets

Section 1, Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use. Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements. Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims. Section 4, First-aid measures includes important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment. Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire. Section 6, Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup. Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities. Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the SDS where available as well as appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE). Section 9, Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical's characteristics. Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions. Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity. Section 12, Ecological information*Section 13, Disposal considerations*Section 14, Transport information*Section 15, Regulatory information* Section 16, Other information, includes the date of preparation or last revision. Employers must ensure that SDSs are readily accessible to employees.

other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)

Substances or materials other than blood that have the potential to carry infectious pathogens, such as body fluid, urine, semen, and others.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

The employer shall make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have possible occupational exposure to BBP. Should someone refuse the vaccination, the employee is required to obtain a written statement of his or her refusal.

The exposure control plan should contain at least the following:

The exposure determination The schedule and methods of implementation of compliance, HIV, and HBV Research Laboratories and production facilities, Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up, Communication of hazards to employees, and record keeping.

Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)

This standard requires chemical manufacturers or importers to classify the hazards of chemicals that they produce or import and all employers to provide information to their employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they are exposed, by means of a hazard communication program, labels and other forms of warning, SDSs, and information and training.

Hazard Communication Training

Trained initially and whenever a new physical or health hazard is introduced. Training shall include: -Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area. - The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area. - The measure employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals. - The details of the hazardous communication program developed by the employer, including the explanation of the labeling system, SDS, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.

Willful Violation

Violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits. The employer knows the hazardous condition exists, knows that the condition violates a standard or other obligation of the Act, and makes no reasonable effort to eliminate it. OSHA may propose penalty of $135,000 per willful violation.

Serious Violation

Violation where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result. OSHA max $13,494 per violation, adjusts depending in the gravity of the violation.

Employer Appeals

Within 15 working days of receiving a citation, an employer who wishes to contest must submit a written objection to OSHA.

29 CFR 1910.1030

bloodborne pathogens

Repeated Violation

employer has been previously cited for the same type of violation within the previous five years

Violating posting requirements

may bring a civil penalty of $7000

Occupational Safety and Health Act

passed in 1970, The purpose of the law is "to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working condition; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health; and for other purposes." OSHA was created within the Department of Labor.